By Ashwon Martin

Well, Gustav came through and went; he made landfall on Monday, Labor Day in Mobile, AL. which is where I live. Next he was headed off to New Orleans. Mobile received some flooding in our downtown area and along the coast. So to say the least,  Labor Day in Mobile was drenched and quiet. We Mobilians tend to be resilient, when it comes to hurricanes.

 

In Mobile, we headed the warning and therefore causalities were minimal at best. So, I spent my Labor Day sleeping and watching tv. Usually on Labor Day our stores are closed and people spend it with their perspective families. But all in all we made it through. There's still another one out there, Hanna which is hitting the coastal Atlantic seaboard and IKE which is somewhere in the Atlantic, not sure where he will hit just yet, but of course the Caribbean should be watchful.

Well until next time!

By Ashwon Martin

I had the pleasure of meeting a relative new community member through the query of our editor for GBMNews. Let me introduce to you Marcus G. May. Marcus works for the AIDS Community Service in Buffalo, NY; he is also the LGBT Community Outreach Specialist. Marcus was kind enough to give GBMNews an interview; he is also the person who spear headed the first ever Buffalo Black Gay Pride.

 

Q. How did the Buffalo Black Pride come about? A. It started with the life changes group and through networking with other social groups, agencies (Pride Center Western NY) and gay houses.
Q. How long did it take to put the pride event together? A. It took approximately 4 mos. This is was done by street outreach, networking, internet annocements and word of mouth.
Q. What was the community reaction? A. We have had mixed reviews, the Caucasians gave the most opposition; they felt why have an identified ethnic specific pride. June 8th was pride day in Buffalo then we (Black Gay Pride) followed out our own on the 26th of July. The Caucasians thought one was enough.

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By Ashwon Martin

This is one of my best of friends Anthony Cole, the director of The C.Anthony Cole Repertory Dance Theatre. Anthony a dancer and a budding entrepreneur. It was a pleasure catching up with him and getting him to do this interview. Here's what he had to say.

C. Anthony Cole

 

What's been happening with you? We have just completed our 8th season and it went very well. We are in the midst of preparing for our training program that will start in January 2009. We will be holding auditions for the company on January 10, 2009. I have been looking at grants and sponsorships for the company, and I'm looking forward to be finding individuals who are interested in being serious dance artist.

What involved in the training program? The training program will consist of individuals from grade levels 9th - 12th. The training program uses the conservatory model, it's more structured, discipline based that focuses on 3 techniques (ballet, modern and jazz). We will also offer master classes from well known instructors from the L.A. and the San Diego area. The training program will prepare the students for the real world of dance i.e. college dance major or a professional dancer.

 

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During the summer season, gay people around the country often have fun and enjoyment by attending prides in various cities.  It is a time of bliss and freedom. Recently the bliss came to a tragic end for three men returning from Chicago.

 

A popular young gay man,  Eric Lamar Turner died in a terrible car accident returning from the Chicago Gay pride. Turner  was a former CoCo Dorm model "Lamar" and promising actor.

The accident  took place the day after the final day of Chicago Gay Pride. It was a rainy Monday morning, on I-65 near Lafayette, Indiana. Turner and two passengers were headed to the state capitol of Indianapolis in a rented Mazda.

According to police, Turner slammed, head on, into a tractor-trailer truck. The car split into two pieces. Turner and his passengers were killed immediately. State Police Sgt. Kim Rile tells local news, WTHR-TV "It's not surprising that no one lived." "We assume Turner just wasn't paying attention or just came off the roadway and lost control in the wet grass."

Police say the crash was so severe that seatbelts would not have prevented injury or death. They believe the driver was wearing a seatbelt. However, they could not determine if the passengers had seatbelts on.

Jocqueline Turner, Eric's grandmother, said Eric Lamar had lived in New York, Alabama and Indianapolis before returning to Louisville.

The other victims, also from Louisville, were Tyrone Alexander Richie Jr., 18, and Julius Mitchell, 19.

Eric Lamar Turner was 23 years old. Funeral services were held this past Sunday at Refuge in Kentucky Church, 207 S. Hancock St., Louisville.

Sources: The Courier Journal & Times, WTHR Indianapolis

It is with great sadness I announce, that one of our community more well known members have expired.  For those of you, who haven't heard, Serapis K-ROCK has passed, as of this writing two nights ago in Atlanta, GA. The cause is still not known. However, we will celebrate his life no matter what was the cause.

GBMNews, will be posting a memorial article on his brief life and legacy this coming week.

IF you are in the Atlanta area or near the Atlanta area and would like to attend the memorial services, the information is provided below.

Memorial services will be held this Friday, which is also his birthday, at 1 p.m in Atlanta, Ga. The services will be held at
 
Tabernacle Baptist Church
475 Boulevard NE Atlanta, GA 30308
Phone: 404-876-3777

Because of his statue in the community, it is recommended that individuals come early to get a seat. Tabernacle Baptist can hold up to 2000 people. For more information please contact a representative at this number (404) 688 - 7940

Waddie Grant

I had found Waddie Grant AKA Professor GQ to be such an interesting person that I had to snag an interview. You will probably ask. Who is this person? Well let me shed a little light on this interesting individual. I’ve met Waddie several years ago through a group that was run by a mutual acquaintance. 

We keep in contact off and on then we meet up again through MySpace. But who is he? You might ask. He is a cultural critic, an event planner and entrepreneurial and the list goes on and on. So, I asked him for an interview so the general LGBT community can get a more in depth view of him and he graciously accepted.

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Shawn Joyner and Will Horn live in Atlanta, GA, where they own the Joyner-Horn Realty Group  While they have made a name for themselves as a couple, their individual accomplishments are equally as impressive.

Shawn Joyner (33) is the creator and host of the Falltacular Retreat. Shawn was known for throwing parties in the Atlanta area. People would come from all over for his birthday. Instead of them flying in for the weekend and not have anything to do or doing things on their own, he decided to make it a weekend event. The first few years he invited family and friends for a weekend in the mountains. He chose the mountains for relaxation and spiritual purposes. However, in 2005, the event was opened to the public and Falltacular was born. Located at a resort in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, the weekend offers a variety of events including horseback riding, hiking and mountain climbing. The Falltacular Retreat is held every year in the fall. Future endeavors include Fire Fridays held the first Friday of every month from 8 p.m. to midnight and a couples group.

Will Horn (37) is a pastor of The Power Center church  in Atlanta, GA. While working as an assistant pastor at another Atlanta church, he decided he wanted to do something totally different. Will wanted a church that was more inclusive and open to all people. So he created The Power Center. The focus of the Power Center is to be out and about in the community, helping and ministering to people. The Power Center holds an annual coat drive, provides food for the homeless and, of course, community service. The Power Center has a service every Sunday from noon to 1:30 at the Apache Café located at 64 3rd St NW.

Recently, we lost a great friend and a strong advocate for gay rights and a great family man. R. Vinnie (not his real name) was a feature writer for us (GBMNEWS : Comfortable & Closeted / DL for over 30 years) . He was also a great advocate for dl brothers, although he wrote only 3 articles, they sparked much debate. He and I would have our disagreements, but we remain friends till the end.

Allow me to briefly tell you all how we met. We met in a chat room that was popular at the time and one day I was hit up by him and it went from there. Eventually, we exchange numbers and eventually met. At the time he was recently divorce with 2 young sons and a very young daughter, I think 3 at the time. And I had just moved back to AL from NY, which is where he was originally from. As our friendship grew we would talk more about things concerning politics to homosexuality to the church. And what it was like being a divorcee and down low with children and I of course would talk about what it was like being an out black gay man and how the two would often conflict.

Now to bring you up to date...

According to USATODAY, celebrities like Jay – Z to supermodel Gisele is using EURO dollars now instead of American dollars and Gisele prefer to be paid in Euro.

The falling buck now worth less than the Canadian dollar and down 40% against the Euro.

By this measure Americans is feeling the effects, from high gas prices to expensive steel. The main reason given were we consume too much ( meaning: greedy) and save to little (meaning: why save when you can spend). On the larger scale, credit deficit poor performance of our stock markets and doubts that we, Americans can handle our financial affairs, which make for world investors not to invest in our economy or country

All its saying that in all scheme of things money makes the world go around and how can we make the world go around when America is experiencing a 92 trillion deficit? With a weak dollar and a weak economy, you will have less of a voice in the world economics and less influence with world political leaders.

If we ever get our financial house n order, maybe we can gain more respect from rap artist and models alike.


Source: USATODAY

This past Thursday (Nov 15th), something that most of us Mobilians couldn’t phantom happened in our city. According to local reports, a 14 year old African American girl went to her locker between classes , to prepare for the next class period and found a note sliped in her the locker that reads. “To: you, From: me” and went on to say “Its black ppl (people) like you that make me sick and I don’t like you…. I want you to leave now and go to a skool (school) with your ppl (people).” (Mobile Press) School officals decline to comment on camra.

At the bottom of the letter was a drawing of a tree with a noose hanging from a limb and the inscription “Whites Only”. The student name is Kenyaitta Hackworth who’s on a track scholarship of the prestigious private catholic all white school, ST. Paul. About 100 students stood outside in the courtyard to show support of their fellow classmate Kenyaitta. Student Government Association President Carmen Chambers spoke to the media on behalf of her peers before leading the group in prayer Thursday morning.( Associated Press)

The top administrator of the school, Marty Lester did not comment on camera but instead directed all questions to the Mobile Police Department. He did give a written statement that says, "The act of one person does not define our school."

Black Americans are upset and disgruntled. Here’s what black people say, according to a recent poll by Pew Research Center, only 1 in 5 blacks say that things are better for them than 5yrs ago. In 1984 2 in 4 said that it was better 5yrs earlier. Less than half feel things will get better, as opposed to 57% in 1986.

Here’s why blacks feel the way they do:

• In creasing crime rates
• Unemployment and mortgage foreclosures
• Shrinking wealth
• Jena Six
• Noose hanging around the country

Pew survey also noted that race relations have showed very little change.

• 1 in 4 whites see blacks favorably, compared to 17% in 1990.
• 27% blacks see whites favorably, which remains constant.

However, the survey went on for several more paragraphs, including talks of wealth decline and how African Americans have think that they have progressed economically. If you want to read more Http://www.usatoday.com


Source: USATODAY.COM

Name calling even in jest is not nice. It often leads to hurt feelings and emotional scarring. Take for instance in Louisiana. In Houma, LA, a white state lawmaker who is in a run off election called a civil rights veteran “Buckwheat” (a racial stereotype in the late 30’s and early 40’s.)

The Democratic white lawmaker has since been urge to leave office by the NACCP, who also told voters not to vote for her. Carla Blanchard Dartez, acknowledge the incident and said that she was just ending the conversation with the veteran civil rights leader Hazel Boykin. By saying, “Talk to you later, Buckwheat!”

Rep Carla Blanchard Dartez, accredited Hazel Boykin for actually helping her gain votes.

Mrs. Dartez could not be reached for comments nor has she apologized to Hazel Boykin personally. Mrs Dartez has no intention of dropping out of the race, according to reports



Source: Associated Press

Barry Bonds has been indicted by the courts for lying to the grand jury. Given his track record and his well known celebrity status, it would be difficult in finding an impartial jury. Bonds has been found lying to the federal grand jury regarding the BALCO investigation for steroid use in sports.

The reps for BALCO say that even with the immunity given to him, he denied that he used steroids.

Source: USATODAY.COM

Recently, I’ve read in the USAToday an article on Black fashion and how its affecting mainstream Americans view. Basically, the article went on to say how black fashion is becoming an eye sore to many mainstream Americans (white) as well as for many blacks. Laws are being past or has past in several cities in the country; Atlanta, GA, Shreveport, LA just to name a few. These laws include fines of a particular amount to potential jail time. But you have to ask yourself when does freedom of expression crosses the line of obscenity? You can’t say it’s a black thang, because whites, Asians, latinos etc…. sag

According to the commentary in the USAToday, people are starting to make a fuse about urban style that boarder on obscenity. Platinum gold teeth is providing a health risk to the individual who wears them or girlls has they are called on the streets. No one knows the long term effect of grills on the teeth

Justice has somewhat been served with a mix blessings. Michael Sandy trial is still not over, but justice has somewhat been served. One of the defendants John Fox was found convicted of manslaughter and attempted robbery as hate crimes. The more serious charge of manslaughter he was acquitted of. What was conflicting in the trial was the jury deliberated rather quickly (7men, 5women) indicating that they did not understand the complexity of the law and the charges that were being made.
 
Koniviser will be sentence Oct. 24. He could get anywhere from 5 to 25 years with the requirement that he serves six sevenths of this stence. Ilya Shurov, face the same charges butw ill be tried later. Gary Timmins, testified for the prosecution in exchange for a four-year sentence after pleading guilty to attempted robbery as a hate crime.

Source: KeithBoykin.com

The rap artist T.I was up for nine awards this past Saturday for the BET HIP HOP awards. T.I. brought home two awards, CD of the year was one of them. However, T.I. didn’t make it to the awards show. He was arrested for trying to buy unregistered machine guns. 

T.I. was arrested in a sting operation saying he- a convicted felon- was trying to buy machines guns. He is schedule to appear today in court. If convicted he could face up to 10 yrs in federal for possession of three unregistered machines guns, two silencers, and possession of fire arms by a convicted felon.

T.I's real name is Clifford Harris Jr. He is 27. Agents also took into custody his longtime girlfriend, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, and rappers Marc Boney and Young Dro, who record for T.I.'s Grand Hustle record label. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Tiny was a member of the late 90’s hit group xscape.

You don’t have to travel far to experience Jamaican rhetoric and hatred. Right here in my city and in many other cities as well, openly gay men in particular experience all types of hardships from churches, people on the street and even their gay community… the only difference is we live in America and we have laws that protect individuals (not necessarily gay per se’) from public beatings.

We are still fortunate; however, if the laws were to be nonexistent, I’m sure we could experience similar acts in my city. The law is what stops people from committing such hatred acts, although it still occurs occasionally. America always has had a love/hate fascination with homosexuality. I remember a time in America when it seemed people were becoming “OK” with homosexuality. Then HIV and AIDS came in the late 80’s and the honey moon was over. The relationship drifted back towards hate.

For those of you who don’t remember, Michael Sandy was a gay African American male, who ran into traffic to escape an attempted robbery. Which lead him to being hit by a car, drug off the road and beaten unconsciously and robbed. He later died. However, the case got little national attention.

During a recent court proceeding, the suspect Anthony Fortunato (21) made an announcement through his lawyer that he was gay and looking for a potential sexual hookup with Michael. The potential hook up he’s referring to is through a well known sexual hookup website. Not only is Fortunato supposedly not gay, but neither is Gary Timmins, the other suspect in the murders. Mr. Fortunato claims, he’s been cruising for sexual hookups since he was 17. Investigators allegedly found homo erotic material on his computer.

Its no secret people are fed up! As the southern old folks use to say;“Boi! Pull yo britches up!” Law ordinates has been past in Louisiana by fining individuals who wear pants that exposes skin and underwear. Other cities are considering doing something similar. Some critics say that the new ordinances will target African Americans, particularly youth. That’s not necessarily the case.

Recently, I was listening to a famous talk radio show. One of the guests is a regular, who is a pastor and holds a doctorate, very enlighten person. The second guest a pastor, as well and lives in NC also very enlighten. Things were going good conversationally, until I heard the topic of homosexuality.

My ears perked. To make a long story short, what I heard was in short is that homosexuality is a disease, a discomfort in spirit, which one pastor stated. The second pastor noted that HIV/AIDS is brought by homosexuality. Don’t quote me directly on that, but something to that effect. A caller chimed in and said she doesn’t believe a homosexual should be playing the organ if they are trying to get their life right.